# data[].attributes.body
Herzlich Wilkommen!
My name is Alex and I'm looking forward to working together and getting to know everyone in the course.
I graduated from UCLA in 2013 with majors in German and Music. I later returned to UCLA and completed a Master of Music in 2017. My instrument is the bassoon.

I've been a freelance musician for a number of years now, teaching bassoon and performing in various capacities around Southern California. My focus is primarily classical, so I've had my hand in orchestras, operas, symphonies, woodwind quintets, chamber music, all sorts of exciting projects that keep me sharp. I love meeting and working with musicians!

Covid-19 changed my plans in a big way, but I see a lot of good things resulting as well. I started tutoring in English and really enjoyed my work. It lead me to decide I really wanted to become a English teacher, as literature and writing have always been something I was passionate about.

I love German language and culture, predominantly the music! Bach, Beethoven, Brahms.. those are all composers who really made me fall in love with classical music and want to perform. That sort of snow-balled into German literature as well, leading me into an obsession with the works of Thomas Mann.

Mann wanted to be a composer first, but later pursued literature and became the Nobel-prize winning author we remember today. He wove musical themes and ideas into nearly all of his works, which is a large part of why I love reading his books.

I also really enjoy hiking, I just climbed Mount Wilson a couple weeks ago. I have to make my own reeds as a bassoonist, which takes a lot of time and has basically become a whole separate hobby that I love.

I'm looking forward to reading about everyone else!

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
At a concert at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove

# data[].attributes.body
These are some of the awesome people I've had the chance to get to know as a musician. I love woodwind instruments and their eccentric players!

# data[].attributes.body
This is a short promotional video that we made from a concert in 2019. The first instrument you can hear is me playing the bassoon.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sextuor pour piano, flûte, hautbois, clarinette, basson et cor, Opus 100 (1931-32)

# data[].attributes.body
I look forward to being able to travel again in the future, and meet interesting people from around the world. This was taken during a really fun party at a disco in February 2020, the last place I was able to visit before the pandemic.

# data[].attributes.body
I really do enjoy a great cup of coffee. One of my favorite things to do is relax with a good book and delicious coffee.

# data[].attributes.body
California's wildlife is truly breathtaking and vital to our coexistence. Signs like these help keep our society aware of the responsibility we bear for nature and all of its inhabitants.

# data[].attributes.body
Here I am pictured with my friend Anastasia in Utah. We love nature and hiking. She is an incredible musician, she plays the flute.